Page 103 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2021

FIGHTERS
story and photos by John N. Felsher
Spots range from Massachusetts down the Atlantic Seaboard around Florida and along the Gulf Coast all the way to the mouth of the Rio Grande. It is extremely common in coastal areas.”
Anglers can catch croakers in any salty waters in Mississippi. They typically stay near the bottom in deeper water, feeling for morsels with their barbels. Also look for them around hard structure, like bridge pilings such as the ones spanning Bay
St. Louis or the mouth of Biloxi Bay. They also hang around numerous artificial reefs. Occasionally, one might hit a lure, but croakers prefer natural baits, especially shrimp.
Growing up, we used to catch quite a few croakers with some even topping four pounds. In the summer, we fished deep holes around structure. Fishing didn’t take much finesse, making it an excellent way to introduce children to the sport.
Simply tie a sinker to a line and attach a small hook about 12 to 18 inches above the weight. Bait the hook with a piece of fresh shrimp and drop it straight to the bottom.
When a big croaker hits, it puts up a tremendous fight. Once we found a “croaker hole,” we could usually land a bunch of fish in a short time. Finding a good hole saved many a day when other fish wouldn’t bite.
Contrary to popular belief, croakers taste delicious. Few people intentionally fish for croakers anymore except to catch bait. If not, they may never experience the joy of watching a young child battle a fish that almost pulled the rod from his or her hands.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net August 2021 | 103
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